Re: Independent Magicians

From: Sandy Petersen <sandyp_at_idgecko.idsoftware.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 96 10:55:37 -0600


INDEPENDENT MAGICIANS IN GLORANTHA
        Instead of attacking Martin's position any more, I have decided to write up a brief essay on the presence of such magicians in Glorantha among the various cultures.

MALKIONI: Malkioni who need personal spells find it rather easy to get in touch with independents. All Malkioni nations have more wizard caste members than they need clergy. Even if all wizards are ostensibly considered clergy, in practice many are the equivalent of wandering friars, lone monks, etc. Urban areas always host wizards who make their living via spells for hire. Some lands license such wizards. Sorcerers who cast spells clearly not in the public weal are legally harassed, and either keep underground ("Need a curse? Go to the black house in Teacup Square and tell 'em Joe sent ya."), or move to rural areas ("The swamp witch can do anything, but only at a price.")

ORLANTHI: their complex and interfriendly pantheon of gods provides most such needs, especially when added to the occasional shaman and the more rare sorcerer. Note that _all_ Orlanthi lands are near enough to sorcery-using cultures that a freelance sorcerer or two are generally available in any big town (even Pavis has one). Also, most Orlanthi cultures have a hinterland primitive enough to boast some shamanistic traditions. And the pantheon, as hinted at before, can do many things. Need a love potion? Try Uleria. A curse? Eurmal. A headache powder? Chalana Arroy.

        Most of the Orlanthi cults are fairly mercenary, if you hadn't noticed. Uleria, Argan Argar, Chalana Arroy, Lhankor Mhy, and Issaries all justify their existence by providing services to non-cultists. Orlanth and Ernalda aren't oriented that way, but everybody (85%) already worships them anyway.

DORADDI: quite simply, the special needs for magic are met by visiting the oases, which teem with seers, potion-makers, wonder-workers, etc.

EAST ISLES: their religious sentiment is rather perfunctory. Even their regular priests are functionaries who gladly do things for profit. And the priests of the In-Between gods (like Dormal, for instance) are valued primarily for the benefits they can grant their worshipers and those who hire them. The only deity for which true devotion is generally present is Thella. Hired sorcerers, hireling priests, this is the way of the mercantilistic East Isles.

KRALORELA: the Mysticism that permeates their land means that any fine crafter is a magician, with special powers. Naturally, the vast majority of such crafters are readily available for hire.

FONRIT: Fonrit's sorcerers are almost exclusively unreligious mercenaries. Their priests normally only do magic for their owners or at their owners command.

LUNAR EMPIRE: others have aimed far more discriminating lenses at this land than I, and should doubtless answer this particular puzzle.

Sandy P.


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